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2013 Stories

Antibiotic May Treat Dry Eye Disorder
Dec. 29, 2013 (Medical Research) – Senior Scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute Dr. David A. Sullivan and Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Yang Liu have found that azithromycin can directly stimulate the function of meibomian gland epithelial cells. This finding may prove beneficial as treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), the leading cause of dry eye disease in the world. Dr. Sullivan said, “Such research in the future will allow the creation of a portfolio of therapeutic options to treat the underlying disease and improve the quality of life of MGD patients."

The Supraclavicular Artery Flap for Head and Neck
Dec. 26, 2013 (JAMA Network) – A study conducted on 45 patients with defects related to malignant and nonmalignant disease undergoing reconstructive surgery demonstrated the versatility of the supraclavicular artery (SCA) flap in head and neck reconstruction and offers technical highlights to improve the efficiency of flap harvest. The SCA flap said to be a versatile and reliable reconstructive option for head and neck defects. The study was conducted in part by Director of the Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and the Norman Knight Center Dr. Daniel Deschler, who is lead author.

Tiny Screens Can be a Big Strain on Eyes
Dec. 16, 2013 (Boston Globe) – Dr. Gang Luo, associate scientist at Schepens/Mass. Eye and Ear, has created a free iPhone app called SuperVision Magnifier that helps magnify images and provide extra light for users via the phone’s camera. Doctors at Mass. Eye and Ear in Boston say they get a regular flow of patients complaining of sore eyes, blurry vision, headaches, and muscle strain which are a direct result of excessive use of smartphones, among other computer devices. This SuperVision Magnifier smartphone app comes at a time where, “At least every eighth patient has this complaint — it’s super common,” says Dr. Matt Gardiner, ophthalmologist at Mass. Eye and Ear and director of the hospital’s ophthalmology emergency services. Dr. Steven Rauch, otologist and director of the clinical balance and vestibular center at Mass. Eye and Ear,advises those who may start to feel queasy from using their device to simply close their eyes, look elsewhere, and try to reset their sensory system.

Can an App Improve Vision?
Dec. 10, 2013 (Wall Street Journal) – A 12-week, scientifically tested training program, now available as an iPhone app called GlassesOff, uses a technique called perceptual learning to reduce and possibly eliminate the need for reading glasses. The 30-person study, published in Scientific Reports on February 2012, showed that participants could read letters that were 1.6 times smaller than they could before using GlassesOff. While more research is needed on the GlassesOff program, Dr. Peter Bex, a neuroscientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute, a part of Mass. Eye and Ear in Boston, says, "The idea of using perceptual learning for vision difficulties has scientific merit." Using perceptual learning to improve vision has proved viable in several scientific studies, including in people with lazy eye.

Contact Lens which Releases Drugs into the Eye Gives New Hope to Glaucoma Sufferers
Dec. 9, 2013 (Daily Mail UK) – A new study has been hailed as a key step forward in the fight against glaucoma, a disease which affects 480,000 people in Britain. The study finds that a new contact lens, which releases drugs into the eye slowly, could be the next weapon used to treat the world’s leading cause of blindness. Cornea Specialist at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Joseph Ciolino, said, “In general, eye drops are an inefficient method of drug delivery that has notoriously poor patient adherence.” Dr. Ciolino added that these contact lenses could help save millions from preventable blindness.

New Combo Approach May Ease Severe Ringing in the Ears
Dec. 6, 2013 (Healthy Day) – A new combination approach to tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, may help patients who suffer from the condition find relief. Preliminary research has shown that a combination of “vagus nerve stimulation” and “tone therapy” have reduced tinnitus symptoms in about half of patients studied. Three of the patients in the study even showed a 44 percent reduction in the impact of tinnitus on their daily lives. Currently, the two most notable treatments for this condition are cognitive behavioral therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy. Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Donald Keamy Jr., said, “Many people try to ignore this condition when it arises, but this is a very prevalent problem. And while we have treatments, there's no one therapy that fits everybody…The traditional treatments we have are not sufficient and a search for new approaches – like this one – is certainly necessary."

Dealing with a Snoring Spouse: Snoring Stress
Dec. 3, 2013 (Fox 25 News) – Otolaryngology Specialist at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. John Lazor, visited Fox 25 Morning News on Dec. 3to inform viewers about the impact that snoring can have on one’s health -- and on one's spouse. Side effects may include sleep disruption and difficulty concentrating. He says, “Snoring is the result of decreased airflow from partial or complete obstruction of the airway. It’s important to identify the level of obstruction so that this can be treated appropriately.” He describes a simple fix to the problem as laying on one’s side rather than one’s back in order to improve breathing through an obstructed airway. But, the fix is not always so simple. Dr. Lazor suggests that, most importantly, “You need to identify whether there’s an underlying medical issue there as well, and that’s why a comprehensive examination from somebody that specializes in that area is important.”

Fighting Hearing Loss from the Crowds' RoarsNov. 20, 2013 (New York Times) – Earlier this Fall, Seattle Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field formed the world record for loudest album crowd, with a noise level reaching 136.6 decibels.While the Seahawks’ website boasts about the fanatic, loud cheering, this noise level has the potential cause serious hearing damage. “The extent to which hearing-related issues get so little attention is amazing and troubling,” saidM. Charles Liberman, a professor of otology at Harvard Medical School and director of the hearing research lab at Mass. Eye and Ear. Too much noise can cause partial deafness and other auditory abnormalities like tinnitus, or ringing of the ear, and hyperacusis, a sensitivity or intolerance to sound which is often accompanied by ear pain.

Success of Supplementation Linked to Genetic Risk Factors for AMD Progression
Nov. 13, 2013 (Healio) – A study co-authored by Co-Director of the Macular Degeneration Unit at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Ivana Kim, reports that people born with genetic risk factors towards developing age-related macular degeneration may inhibit the progression of their condition by taking certain kinds vitamins, namely antioxidants. The study, which analyzed the progression rate of the illness in regards to nutritional supplementation, was conducted on 995 patients.

Detecting Eye Cancer in Children
Nov. 12, 2013 (Optometry Today) – Family photos can help detect a rare form of pediatric eye cancer called leukocoria. Just ask Dr. Brian Shaw, assistant professor of bioanalytical chemistry at Baylor University and co-author of the study. Dr. Shaw collaborated with Dr. Shizuo Mukai who treated his son Noah for leukocoria at Mass. Eye and Ear. Together, they recently published a study that showed that leukocoria, or "white eye" can be present in infants as young as 12 days old. "One of the most effective ways for detecting it appears to be amateur photography," says Dr. Shaw.

Short-Term Hearing Loss Can Lead to Long Lasting-Problem
Nov. 11, 2013 (Tele Management) – New research shows that short-term hearing loss during childhood can lead to regular hearing deficits even after basic auditory sensitivity has been restored to normal. Assistant Professor of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School, Principal Investigator at Mass. Eye and Ear's Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, and co-author of the study, Dr. Daniel Polley says, "These findings demonstrate that brief bouts of asymmetric hearing loss during very specific points in postnatal development can have a lasting effect on brain circuits that compare and integrate the sound waves that enter each year."

Fewer Cases of Glaucoma Now Progressing to BlindnessNov. 6, 2013 (Medscape) – Changes in diagnostic techniques have proven to reduce the probability of glaucoma leading to blindness in at least one eye. Almost 50 percent of patients from Olmsted County, Minnesota, who were diagnosed from 1981 to 2000 in comparison to the time period between 1965 and 1980, had reduced rates of glaucoma-induced blindness. "In terms of how this is going to affect today's practice, [the study] definitely brings up a good point regarding the higher age at diagnosis," Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Expert at Mass. Eye and Ear and Instructor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School Dr. Lucy Q. Shen told Medscape Medical News. The studies suggest that being diagnosed with glaucoma earlier in life reduces the rate of developing glaucoma-induced blindness in patients.

How Pictures of Infant Boy's Eyes Helped Diagnose Cancer
Nov. 6, 2013 (NPR) – Professor of Bioanalytical Chemistry at Baylor University in Texas, Dr. Brian Shaw, has researched a rare form of cancer called leukocoria after he and his wife, Elizabeth, discovered it in their son. Dr. Shaw collaborated with Dr. Shizuo Mukai, the ophthalmologist who treated his son Noah at Mass. Eye and Ear, to co-author this paper published in PLOS ONE. He also collaborated with oncologists at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. After analyzing thousands of pictures taken with a digital camera, Dr. Shaw was able to conclude that digital cameras can detect increases in the size of tumors, and suggests that they be used as a screening tool for the early detection of leukocoria.

Eat Your Greens to Keep Macular Degeneration at Bay
Nov. 6, 2013 (Herald Sun) – The 45th Annual Scientific Congress of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists in Hobart was held on Nov. 5 2013. International Eye Specialist and first female Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School Dr. Joan Miller, spoke about the risk factors that contribute to macular degeneration. She mentioned age as being the biggest risk factor in being diagnosed with macular degeneration, and says that “a healthy diet of dark, green leafy vegetables is the best prevention.”

Penetrating the Brain
Nov. 1, 2013 ( The Scientist) – Researchers are using new methods to “open the last great biochemical barricade in the body – the blood-brain barrier,” or BBB. Sinus Surgery Specialist at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Benjamin Bleier, and his colleagues, have been working on optimizing a closing technique to cover the hole that is left in a patient after incision. New developments and insight into the blood-brain barrier (BBB) could lead to a better understanding of the permeability of drugs through the nasal lining. In turn, this could lead to a more efficient and successful treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Red Sox Pride at Boston Area Hospitals
Oct. 29, 2013 (Boston.com) – Staff from the operating room, pediatrics and emergency departments at Mass. Eye and Ear show their Red Sox spirit alongside staff and patients from other Boston-area hospitals by wearing Red Sox apparel in support of their home team. The Red Sox are currently in the finals and in the hopes of winning the 2013 World Series.

Safety Tips for Halloween Trick-or-TreatingOct. 27, 2013 (Boston Globe) – The Boston Globe offers tips on how to keep your children safe during Halloween. Mass. Eye and Ear recommends avoiding masks or other gear that block peripheral vision. With that said, using hypoallergenic makeup instead of a mask would be optimal. Mass. Eye and Ear also suggests not wearing contact lenses that are not prescribed by a doctor.

Topical Antibiotics After Eye Injections May Be Harmful
Oct. 26, 2013 (Medscape) – According to a new study published online in Ophthalmology, reducing the number of topical antibiotics given to patients post-injection could reduce the incidence of endophthalmitis, or inflammation within the eyeball. Dr. John Lowenstein, associate chief of ophthalmology for clinical affairs at Mass. Eye and Ear and vice chair for education in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, said, "I think this should be practice-changing...I have already stopped using topical antibiotics for intravitreal injections, and I think many people may follow suit."

'Wind Turbine Syndrome' Blamed for Mysterious Symptoms in Cape Cod Town
Oct. 21, 2013 (ABC News) – Headaches, insomnia, dizziness – these are just a few of the symptoms that Falmouth residents are experiencing after various wind turbines were places near their homes. The American Wind Energy Association maintains that wind power is causing residents a direct health benefit by reducing air pollution in the area. In 2011, a doctor from Harvard Medical School diagnosed one of the residents of Falmouth with wind turbine syndrome. The syndrome is not recognized by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Steven Rauch, director of the Balance and Vestibular Center at Mass. Eye and Ear, weighs in.

What is 'Vocal Fry,' and is it Harmful to Your Health?Oct. 21, 2013 (Boston Globe)– Vocal fry is a type of vocalization characterized by a low, creaky voice. Director of Laryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Ramon Franco, explains that while vocal fry is not a health concern, it does cause the vocal cords to slap together and produces a creaky sound with no particular note. While radio and TV broadcasters are usually trained to eliminate vocal fry, there has been a trend to use vocal fry amongst young women. This trend shows itself in the voices of celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel, Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry.

Researchers Develop New Drug Delivery Method
Oct. 16, 2013 (Boston Magazine) – A new method to deliver drugs directly to the brain has arisen in a new study published by PLoS One, Harvard Medical School, and Mass. Eye and Ear Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngology researchers. Dr. Benjamin Bleier, said that "since this is a proven surgical technique known to be safe and well tolerated, these data suggest that these membranes might be used to permanently bypass the blood-brain barrier using a patient's own tissue." This may mean better treatment for the more than 20 million Americans with neurodegenerative diseases.

Imagining the Fundus Using a Smartphone
Oct. 1, 2013 (Optometry Today) – Researchers at Mass. Eye and Ear have been using an app called Filmic Pro to capture high quality images of patients' eyes. Dr. Shizuo Mukai, associate professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School, said that the technique "provides a simple method to consistently producing excellent images of a patients' fundus," or retina. This practice also proves to be cost effective, since commercial fundus cameras can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Researchers Gain Insight into Protective Mechanisms for Hearing Loss
Sept. 18, 2013 (RedOrbit) – Dr. Zheng-Yi Chen, Mass. Eye and Ear researcher and associate professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School, and his team of researchers, have created a new model that protects mice from age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Research suggests potential for new treatments for ARHL and NIHL in humans.

Woman Regains Eyesight After a Lifetime of Blindness
Aug. 15, 2013 (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) - A blind woman is now seeing for the first time after being offered a unique surgical technology called the Boston KPro, which was developed by doctors at Mass. Eye and Ear.

Top Foods to Help Protect your Vision
Aug. 2013 (Harvard Medical School) – Dr. Ivana Kim, Co-Director of the Macular Degeneration Unit at Mass. Eye and Ear, explains that eating a diet rich in certain nutrients may help in preventing two common causes of vision problems: cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

When All Goes Quiet
July 18, 2013 (Harvard Medical School News) – In an effort to learn from the Boston Marathon bombings, Alicia Quesnel and Daniel Lee, both doctors at Mass. Eye and Ear, have started a three-year research study that will examine post-blast trauma to the ear. They will follow 100 patients who are receiving ongoing care.

Love and Rare Cancer: Widow Fights On For Eye Melanoma Research
June 27, 2013 (WBUR) – Dr. Sara Selig has helped raise more than $1 million towards research for uveal melanoma, a rare condition causing cancer of tissue in the eye, after her husband passed away in January 2012. Ophthalmologist Dr. Ivana Kim explains the progress that has been made in the ability to predict who is at the highest risk for the tumor spreading outside of the eye.

With Hearing Implants, Experiencing Sound for the First Time
June 22, 2013 (ABC News) – Dr. Daniel Lee, director of the Pediatric Ear, Hearing and Balance Center at Mass. Eye and Ear, describes the importance of introducing cochlear implants to those with severe hearing loss at an early age. He explained that doing this will allow children to grow with auditory skills and stronger language skills.

Quincy Researcher Lands $60,000 Grant
June 11, 2013 (The Patriot Ledger) – Matthew Bronstad, Ph.D., research associate at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute, has been awarded a $60,000 grant by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. This grant will support research on childhood vision loss.

Eye and Ear Seeks Public Support as it Eyes Expansion for Campus
June 11, 2013 (The Beacon Hill Times) – Mass. Eye and Ear recently received some positive feedback in the June 3 meeting with the Beacon Hill community. Mass. Eye and Ear is seeking the public’s support in securing the state legislation necessary for the proposed expansion of its Boston campus.

Seventy Medical Research Groups Join Forces
June 7, 2013 (Boston Magazine) – Seventy medically focused organizations, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear and other Boston area hospitals, have joined together to work toward developing ways to allow sharing and improve security of genetic discoveries to facilitate global discoveries to improve patient care.

Smoking Increases Risk of Vision Problem
May 26, 2013 (News Fix) – A recent study that followed twins conducted at Massachusetts Eye and Ear revealed that those who smoke are more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness. The study also found that those who eat an increased amount of fish have a reduced risk for age-related macular degeneration.

Common Glaucoma Drug May Cause Droopy Eyelids, Study Finds
May 24, 2013 (Winnipeg Free Press) – A study led by Dr. Louis Pasquale, director of glaucoma service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, has found that drugs commonly used to treat glaucoma may cause droopy eyelids and other side effects that can interfere with vision.

How Boston is Managing Pain after the Blasts
April 17, 2013 (PBS) – Dr. Alicia Quesnel, an ear specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, has seen a steady stream of patients since Monday’s explosions at the Marathon finish line, complaining of ear pain and ringing since the blasts. Anyone experiencing the telltale signs of hearing damage -- including ear pain, continuous ringing, blood drainage or dizziness -- should be examined as soon as possible,” she said.

Before the Marathon: Food and Celebration
April 15, 2013 (The Boston Globe) – Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon, supported Team Eye and Ear during a Sunday pre-marathon brunch held at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

7 Healthcast: Overcoming a Horse Throat
April 15, 2013 (WHDH) – Dr. Ramon Franco, a Massachusetts Eye and Ear Laryngologist, discusses how to prevent and treat a hoarse voice. Franco explains that some home remedies, such as lemon tea, can be bad for you.

One-Legged Runner Finds Kindness While Training for Boston Marathon
April 13, 2013 (WBUR) - Chris Mehmel of East Sandwich, Mass., who has a right leg below-knee prosthesis, ran the Boston Marathon to teach his children the importance of not letting a disability define them. Both of Chris’s children have been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition that can cause blindness.

New Study Suggest that Ranibizumab can be Potential Prophylaxis for PVR
April 10, 2013 (News Medical) – Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear have found a possible prevention of retinal detachment side effect. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy, or the formation of scar tissue in the eye, is a condition caused after recovering from surgical repair of the retina. New studies suggest that Ranibizumab, an anti-VEGF-A monocional antibody fragment, is a potential prevention for PVR.

Study Suggests Video Games Can Help Blind Navigate
April 4, 2013 (The Harvard Crimson) – A recent study from Harvard’s Laboratory for Visual Neuroplasticity at Massachusetts Eye and Ear suggests that audio-based video games can help blind individuals to navigate physical spaces.

Franklin County Lawyer with Sight Problem Focuses on Marathon
April 3, 2013 (ABC 40- WGGB) - Ben Simanski was diagnosed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear with Startgardt’s Disease a few years ago shortly after finishing law school. Since then, he has not let his vision impairment get in the way of his professional and athletic goals. Simanski will run the 2013 Boston Marathon as a part of Team Eye and Ear.

Four Hospital Lobbies Provide a Healthy Perspective
April 2, 2013 (BDC Network) - Massachusetts Eye and Ear was among four hospitals given recognition by Building Design and Construction as putting patients at ease while send a powerful branding message to the healthcare client. Mass. Eye and Ear, Longwood’s, design tries to compensate for patients’ issues with depth perception, color perception, and various levels of vision impairment.

Newton Father Running Boston Marathon to Save Son’s Vision
April 2, 2013 (WBZ/CBS Boston) – Bruno Miquel will be running as a part of Team Eye and Ear in the 2013 Boston Marathon to help find cures for his son, Quentin, who was born with a genetic condition (juvenile retinoschisis) which impairs vision. There is currently no cure. Bruno aims to raise $10,000 for research at Mass. Eye and Ear.

Meet the Researcher
April 2013 (Hearing Health) - Yoojin Chung, Ph.D., postdoctoral resident at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School is a 2012 recipient of the Hearing Health Foundation grant.

Powered by the Inner Ear
March 19, 2013 (Discover Magazine) - For the first time, scientists have tapped into the cochlea, “the natural battery in the inner ear ,” to charge a small wireless transmitter. Dr. Konstantina Stankovic of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, along with MIT electrical engineer Anatha Chandrakasan, led the research team to this discovery.

Medications that Contribute to Hearing Loss
March 19, 2013 (Health Hearing) – Did you know there are currently more than 200 medications and chemicals known to cause hearing loss and balance disorders? A study conducted by Massachusetts Eye and Ear, along with other researchers, weighs in on the effects certain medications can have on your hearing.

Is That a Generator in Your Ear?
March 14, 2013 (Engineering.com) - A project led by Konstantina Stankovic, otologic surgeon at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear in collaboration with MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories, have developed a low-power chip and transmitter that harvests a previously untapped source of energy within the ear.

Imaging Technique Offers Look Inside Hearing Loss
March 9, 2013 (Science News) – Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, ear surgeon and neuroscientist at Mass. Eye and Ear, explains that it’s difficult to understand why people are deaf because researchers can’t image or biopsy the problem. Stankovic and other colleagues took a peek at inner ear cells using an existing technique called two-photon microscopy. This approach shoots photons at the target tissue exciting particular molecules that then emit light. Stankovic hopes that this will shed light on damage created during hearing loss and help guide insertion of hearing implants.

New High-Tech Gadgets Put Print in Plain Sight
March 8, 2013 (Boca Raton Sun Sentinel) - Today’s gadgets for those with vision problems are becoming more advanced as technology improves. Mass. Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute recently presented gadgets that can freeze an image like a photograph, and even gadgets that have talking capabilities, at a low-vision symposium in Boca Raton, Florida.

Fighting Back Against Allergy Season
March 2013 (Harvard Health Publications) – Allergy season seems to be worsening and starting earlier each year. Mass. Eye and Ear sinus specialist Dr. Stacey Gray suggests starting allergy medications early, along with other tips to avoid symptoms in the upcoming allergy season.

Eye Tests May Predict Alzheimer’s Risk
March 1, 2013 (Medscape) - Findings from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle (AIBL) Flagship Study of Ageing showed abnormalities in the eye may help determine whether someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Gilbert T. Feke, a senior ophthalmology research associate at Mass. Eye and Ear, did a similar study in 2011, finding narrower retinal veins and decreased retinal blood flow in those with probable Alzheimer’s disease, as well as individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

Scampo Raised More Than $5,000 for the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Curing Kids Fund
March 1, 2013 (Beacon Hill Times) – Scampo Restaurant presented a check to President and CEO John Fernandez for $5,000 to benefit Mass. Eye and Ear’s Curing Kids Fund. Scampo donated a percentage of every gift card purchased from the restaurant over the past holiday season.

More Kids Getting Dry Eyes Due To Electronic Gadget Use
Feb. 27, 2013 (GMA News) – Dr. Chan-Uy, who completed her fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at Mass. Eye and Ear, explains that more kids are getting dry eyes from using electronic devices for hours on end. Chan-Uy explains that kids may use lubricants for their eyes to clear up some of the dryness caused.

Best Glaucoma Treatments Still a Puzzle
Feb. 18, 2013 (WebMD) – Dr. Louis Pasquale, co-director of the glaucoma service at Mass. Eye and Ear, comments on research that examines how glaucoma treatments can best to minimize visual disability, while maintaining patient satisfaction. Doctors admit that this is something they are still working towards.

Hull’s Lauribeth Quinlivan Auditions for ‘The Voice’
Feb. 10, 2013 (The Boston Globe) – Mass. Eye and Ear coordinator at Mass. Eye and Ear, Quincy will be traveling to New York City for the first round of auditions for “The Voice,” an NBC vocal competition series hosted by Carson Daly. Quinlivan was asked to apply for an audition, and will face judges such as Usher, Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine.

Boston Eye Group Among First to Offer Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery in New England
Jan. 16, 2013 (WICU) – Samir Melki, M.D., Ph.D., of Mass. Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School is among the first eye surgeons in New England to perform surgery with a new FDA market-cleared laser system called CATALYS. This new system combines a femtosecond laser, 3D imaging, sophisticated software and a number of other innovative features that make the cataract procedure highly customized, gentle and significantly more precise than manual surgery.

Hearing Restored after Noise Damage
Jan. 9, 2013 (Harvard Medical School) – Researchers at Mass. Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School have demonstrated for the first time that hair cells can be regenerated in an adult mammalian ear by using a drug to stimulate resident cells to become new hair cells, resulting in partial recovery of hearing.

Alzheimer’s Drug Dials Back Deafness
Jan. 9, 2013 (NPR) – Researchers including Mass. Eye and Ear Doctor Albert Edge, have for the first time used the drug known as gamma secretase to regenerate the delicate hair cells that sense sound in the ear. This is a promising initial step toward a potential treatment for hearing loss.

Students Develop Assistive Technologies
Jan. 8, 2013 (MIT) – Researchers at Mass. Eye and Ear have teamed up with MIT students to alter touch-screen controls on coffee makers for blind people who have previously had trouble using these machines. MIT students created an iPhone app that gives oral guidance to use the settings on Keurig machines. Drink up, coffee lovers.

Battling a Bacterial Threat
Jan. 2, 2013 (Harvard Gazette) – Mass. Eye and Ear researcher Dr. Michael Gilmore, a Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, is among one of the seven investigators brainstorming about fresh approaches to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance has affected and killed about 18,000 per year since 2005.

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